Unresolved Problems in Accessibility and Universal Design Guidelines

There are numerous standards, design guidelines, and other resources that relate to the use of technology by people with disabilities. We examined whether such resources met the needs of designers based on typical design processes and design psychology. We conducted a heuristic evaluation of eight resources and then surveyed and interviewed the people who created those resources. Based on our research, we identified five unresolved problems in the creation of guidance: (1) neither the audience nor its needs are clearly defined; (2) the terminology of accessible and universal design is imprecise; (3) there is no universally accepted standard of measurement; (4) enforcement of standards is lax because of their ambiguous nature; and, finally, (5) usability of the guidance is compromised. We provide recommendations for resolving each problem.